Process of manufacturing artificial sponge.



Ho Drawing.

UNITED STATES PATENT ornron GUSTAV BUM, OF GBATZ, AND ARTHUR GLAESSNER, OF AUSTBIAflElUNG-ABY,

ASSIGNOBS TO PHILIP? R6DER-BRUNO RAAIBE A. G., OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA- EUTNEGABY, A JOINT-STOCK COMPANY.

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING ARTIFICIAL SPONGE.

To' all whom it may concern Be it known that we, Dr. GUSTAV PUM, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, and resident of Gratz, Styria, Empire of Austria-Hungary, and Dr. ARTHUR GLAESS- mm, a subject of the Emperor of Austria- Hungary, and resident of Vienna, Empire of Austria-Hungary, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Process of Manufacturing Artificial Sponge, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a process of manufacturing artificial sponge or substitute for natural sponge such as artificial or substitute spongeshowing almost all properties of natural sponge. The present process is very simple and comparatively cheap.

According to this invention a concen trated solution of a cellulose derivative is intimately mixed with fibers and a suitably comminuted substance or substances capable of being liquefied, whereby a pasty mass is obtained. This'mass is. then brought to the desired shape and then the comminuted substance is liquefied and separated from the rest of the mass while the cellulose derivative is hardened or coagulated.

Owing to the liquefying and removal of the comminuted substance pores are 'formed in the cellulose derivative which being hard ened or coagulated incloses and holds together the fibers, while the latter greatly increase the mechanical strength of the' hardened or coagulated cellulose derivative. Thus a porous spongy body is obtained having not only the aspect but also most of the valuable properties of natural sponge, more particularly a high degree of porosity and great mechanical strength.

For carrying into eifect this process a concentrated solution of nitro cellulose or acetyl cellulose in amylic acetate, acetone or other suitable solvent or a concentrated solution of viscose in caustic soda lye or a concentrated solution of another, suitable cellulose derivative is prepared. To this concentrated solution a suitable quantity of vegetable or animal fiber or both and a more or less finely comminuted substance is added which is insoluble in the cellulose derivative solution but is capable of being liquefied, either by the application of heat, such as Specification of Letters Patent.

. Paztented June 8,

Application filed October 16, 19-13; Serial-No. 795,550.

formed in the latter. I In some cases the cellulose derivative solution is hardened or coagulated by such heating owing to its solvent being evaporated in-the course of such heating or by the direct action of heat or as in the-case of salts rich in crystal'water, by the action of salt solution formed in liquefying the substance.v For completely hard ening the cellulose derivative after the removal of the liquefiable substance the mass may if necessary be immersed in some" coagulating or hardening agent such as a dilute acid or salt solution.

When substances liquefiable bymezms of" a solvent are used such as sugar, salts or the like, the mixture prepared as above described and brought to the desired shape is immersed in a solvent of such liquefiable substance such as water diluteacid or salt solution until the liquefiable substance is dissolved and rem ved from the mass. In this case the liquefiable substance and its solvent are preferably so selected that they act as hardening or coagulating agents on the cellulose derivative solution. Or the cellulose derivative solution may be hardened or coagulated after the removal of the liquefiable substance by the action of heat or by immersion into a separate coagulating or hardening bath.

The following is an example of carrying into eiiect the improved process. 20 grams of cotton are intimately mixed with 280 grams of concentrated viscose solution (containing 20 grams of viscose 400 grams of finely powdered common salt and 400 grams of coarsely granulated common salt whereby a paste is obtained which is brought to the desired shape and is then immersed into 10% acetic acid until the paste is completely per-' same hardened and coagulated so as to inclose and firmly'hold together the cotton fibers. flf'cou'rse instead of cotton other fibrous material, instead of viscose another cellulose derivative and instead of common salt other liquefiable substances and instead of acetic acid other acids or salt solution ma beused;

I e are aware that'it has been proposed to I sponge .fiominqdiarubber, gutta percha and I a lata zby-,-vnlcani zing the same under high pressure of .agasor after incorporating into manufacture sponge substitutes or artificial the samejffs'ubstances such as water or ammoniurni carbonate giving off vapors or, gases atthe vuleanizing temperature. We are also aware thateithas-b'een proposed to incorporate".mto the-rubber, gutta percha and balatmfoertain vegetable or animal fibers'or strips ofleather, and that it has been prop'osedgec manufacture'sponge substitutes by convertmg cellulose mto a'plastic mass by the i 1 actionof suitable reagents such as chlorid of zinc or; or acids, and mixing the seby grinding-with anhydrous haloid compounds of alkalis whereupon the plastic mass thus-obtained isprovidedwith pores by driving through the same, and which is then thoroughlywashed; and finally we are also aware ,that.ithas, been proposed to use j gtie acid 'wit hforj without the addition of saltsasal'setting agentfor viscose, but we claimbroadly any of these mown manufacturing artificial m aaeie s onge from viscose with an admixturect filters consisting in mixing the vlscose with a granular liquefiable solid substance whereby a paste is obtained, and then liquefymg said substance and removing it from the I mass and hardening the'viscose.

2. A process for manufacturing artificial sponge from viscose with'a granular soluble solid substance whereby a. paste is obtained, then shaping the paste'into pieces of desired form, then immersing the shaped pieces of the mass into a solvent for said soluble substance, whereby said substance is dissolved and removed, from the mass, and hardening the viscose.

3. A process for manufacturing artificial sponge from viscose with an admixture of .fibers consisting in mixing said viscose with names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

'DRQ GUSTAV PUM. o

v D A GLAEssNnn.

Witnesses: e

ARTHUR GAUMANN, Anopsr FUG 

